Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Getting ready to rock and roll

Tonight I've been working on refining one of my paintings. I showedit to you a while ago and it needed some sparkle. After a long, butgreat day at school, I settled in to change it.

Today's starting point

The second image shows what happened, and then...I was photographingit and thought -- wait a minute, and changed it again. Thediscipline of producing a daily blog has definitely affected bothmy productivity and my outlook. Seeing my images through the camera teaches me to scrutinize what I'm doing andadjust it. I am not a fan of the critique, but doing the blog islike a self-installed critique. I want you to like whatI'm doing, and I hope you do. But I really want to be happy withwhat I do. One for all and all for one -- hup! I sound likea cheerleader, which by the way is how I sound most of the time.It's definitely a role I play with gusto.

Almost there, and then the eye on theleft of the painting caught my eye

And here is what may be the final version. This little painting isonly 10" x 10" -- so enough. I am happy. I think.

Beautiful woman10" x 10"acrylic on canvas

Tomorrow in addition to marking papers, I am working on spiffing the placeup enough to have visitors take a look around the studio. No big dealbecause I'm a very tidy painter. Just ask my family. They live withpaint creeping onto the surfaces in every room in the house, paint onthe walls, floors and furniture in the studio, tape on the floor andchairs and couch in the studio to mark commission poses, and even tape on thestudio pillows! I would love to be a tidy painter, but I'd need anassistant who went around behind me keeping everything squeakyclean. Before Artwalk I tidy up the rooms, and make the place look as though order is every bit as important as creativity. I learnedthat from Flora Doehler. In fact Flora taught me the whole idea ofshowing my studio space, and how to make it look good. Shecould be a house Martha,making any place look appealing.I wish she was here now.

6 comments:

Barbara,it is interesting to follow the touch ups you did on this painting - I saw the first one and thought oh, that's nice, then I saw the second and thought ah, that's even better. Arriving at the final version I thought wow, it IS much better than the first one! The expression on her face has changed from slightly nervous to calm, serene and poised - congratulation!Btw, I am totally with you on what you said about blogging! Good luck with your show - wish I could be there!

Portrait Artist

I paint and draw on commission and for shows. To commission a portrait, or purchase one of my paintings please contact me at: barbara.muir@sympatico.ca
A major highlight in my career? Drawing Oprah Winfrey live via Skype for her show "Where in the Skype are you?
Galleries: Studio Vogue Gallery, Toronto, Canada. The Amsterdam Whitney Gallery, New York City. Gallery at the Porch Door, Kingston, Canada.
Your positive comments on this blog mean the world to me. I'd love to hear from you!

I paint and draw on commission and for shows. To commission or purchase one of my paintings contact me at: barbara.muir@sympatico.ca
A major highlight in my career? Drawing Oprah Winfrey live via Skype for her show "Where in the Skype are you? Galleries: Super Wonder Gallery, Toronto, Canada. The Amsterdam Whitney Gallery, New York City. Gallery at the Porch Door, Kingston, Canada. Your positive comments on this blog mean the world to me. I'd love to hear from you!